More people are starting to live in sustainable ways, meaning they want their lifestyle to not contribute negatively to the environment or society. Living a sustainable lifestyle is not as hard as it sounds: there are many things you can do to start on your own journey. Below are listed some easy steps on how you can start living more sustainably yourself!
Eco-Fashion
The fashion industry is the second most polluting industry in the world, emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases, heavy metals, and other dangerous chemicals into our air and water. As explained by the folks at blonde gone rogue, sustainable fashion has become a huge trend, with brands that produce clothes that not only look great but promote a sustainable lifestyle as well. You need to make sure that your clothes are made from organic cotton, recycled polyesters, and low-impact dyes. In addition, make sure that part of your purchase supports a cause you believe in, whether it be animals or saving our planet. There is no reason why you can’t have style and save the planet at the same time!
Green Cleaning Products
Many cleaning products contain dangerous toxic chemicals such as chlorine bleach which can lead to respiratory problems, allergies, and even cancer. Buying green cleaning products will drastically diminish your exposure not only to toxic chemicals, but also pollutants in the air like formaldehyde. There are many different options out there, ranging from green dish soap and laundry detergents to all-purpose cleaners with natural oils. Many mainstream companies have now caught on to this trend and offer green cleaning products; however, you can also make your own at home!
You just need to add some white vinegar to the water, and you can clean your counters, windows, mirrors, and even shower!
Organic Food
Not everyone has access to an organic grocery store near them. However, buying whole foods is a great way of helping the environment because produce contains no harmful chemicals or pesticides which leach into our groundwater after it rains. Buying local is another important factor in sustainable living because it reduces the amount of energy needed for transportation, thus reducing emissions by as much as 50%. One way you can support local farmers is by joining a CSA. A CSA, or community-supported agriculture program, gives you access to fresh vegetables and fruit as well as recipes from the farmer who grows them!
On the other hand, you can try cutting out processed foods as much as possible! Start cooking at home more often with fresh ingredients, use reusable containers for leftovers instead of plastic wrap or bags- these small changes can make a huge difference over time! The first step towards living sustainably is just making one little choice each day.
Green Transportation
The environment isn’t the only thing we need to take care of. Although humans are extremely adaptable creatures, commuting long distances daily can cause stress and anxiety. Riding a bike not only keeps you healthy but also reduces greenhouse gases and improves air quality. Not everyone has access to regular transportation either; however, there are options like car-sharing programs, carpooling services, and even public transportation for those without vehicles.
Also, it’s not necessary to get rid of your car altogether, and you can find ways to make it more sustainable.
Recycling
Environmental waste isn’t just harmful greenhouse gases; many products we use daily are made from non-renewable resources. One major example of this is plastic, which is not biodegradable and can take up to 700 years to break down in the environment. Some plastics do have recycling numbers on them, so you can cut down on waste by buying these products instead of ones that don’t have the number.
But, recycling not only benefits the environment but can save you money too! The average household spends $500/year on trash bags, and recycling helps reduce this number significantly. Additionally, many recycling programs offer incentives for recyclable items like aluminum cans which are used to make new products. This reduces waste in our landfills as well as our dependence on foreign countries for resources since we reuse existing materials instead of mining more metals from the earth.
You can try and stop buying everything new because there are amazing, functional things to be found at thrift shops and garage sales. You might even be able to find things that were once thrown away, such as furniture or appliances.
Green Energy
Many energy sources used today are not sustainable either because they produce harmful greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane, or their supplies are running low. Luckily, there are lots of ways we can make a difference and save money too! One major thing we need to do is reduce our electricity usage. Turning off lights when they aren’t needed and unplugging electronics at night will help cut back on the number of coal-fired power plants in use. On average, switching to LED lightbulbs can save you $90/year (compared to using regular bulbs) because they use less electricity and last longer.
One way that renewables like wind, solar, and geothermal are beneficial is that these energy sources do not produce greenhouse gases; however, they are expensive to set up initially, but they will eventually pay for themselves! If you’re stuck in the city with no access to green space or sunlight, look into investing in a small solar panel installation on your roof. There are many pros and cons to renewable technologies, so it’s important to consider all of them before deciding how sustainable your lifestyle should be.
There are many things you can do to start living more sustainably. By making small changes throughout your day, like recycling or cutting back on electricity usage, you’ll be able to make significant impacts on the environment and cut down on waste too! It’s never too late to take steps towards sustainability; if there is something that has been holding you back from embracing this lifestyle change, then now might just be a perfect time. If it seems overwhelming at first, don’t worry–we’re here to help every step of the way by providing resources like these 6 easy steps for starting a sustainable lifestyle today. What will your first little choice each day be?
